Important NIT games to watch

The NIT keeps popping bubbles as teams take automatic bids to the tournament. The bubble teams are also making life incredibly difficult with losses. I’ll have a brand new bracket tomorrow morning. Considering many of the power conferences have their quarterfinal games today it’s a big time for NIT bubblers to make a run. Here are the games to keep an eye on.

Bubble Teams Fighting For NCAA Tournament:

• North Carolina State vs. Virginia (2 p.m., ESPN2)
• Marshall vs. Southern Miss (4 p.m.) — Also applies to the second list.
• Ole Miss vs. Tennessee (7:30 p.m., ESPN3) — Also applies to second list.
• Colorado State vs. San Diego State (9 p.m.)
• Dayton vs. Xavier (9 p.m., CCS) — Also applies to second list.
• Miami (FL) vs. Florida State (9 p.m. on ESPN2)
• Texas vs. Missouri (10 p.m., ESPNU)

NIT Teams Fighting For Position:

• Massachusetts vs. Temple (12 p.m., CCS)
• Saint Joseph’s vs. St. Bonaventure (2:30 p.m., CCS) — Also applies to the third list.
• LSU vs. Kentucky (1 p.m., ESPNU)
• La Salle vs. Saint Louis (6:30 p.m., CCS)
• Minnesota vs. Michigan (6:30 p.m., BTN)
• UCF vs. Memphis (6:30 p.m.)
• Oregon State vs. Arizona (9 p.m., FSN)
• Ohio vs. Buffalo (9:30 p.m., ESPN3)
• Colorado vs. California (11:30 p.m., FSN)

NIT Bubble Teams Looking For A Bid:

• Maryland vs. North Carolina (12 p.m., ESPN2)
• Iowa vs. Michigan State (12 p.m., ESPN)
• Virginia Tech vs. Duke (7 p.m., ESPN2)
• Hawaii vs. New Mexico State (9 p.m., ESPN3)

Automatic Bids Could Be Needed Still:

• Akron (plays Kent State tonight in MAC semifinals)
• Mississippi Valley State (plays Arkansas-Pine Bluff tonight in SWAC semifinals)
• Nevada (plays Louisiana Tech tonight in WAC semifinals)
• Long Beach State (could make NCAA, but plays UC Irvine tonight in Big West semifinals)
• Stony Brook (plays Vermont on Saturday in America East finals)

Any game that is particularly on your radar? Should be a great day of games.